Chicago and Grass

A poem’s speaker may provide clues to an attitude or feeling that the poet wants readers to share. Examine the word choice and statements made by the speakers in both of these poems by Carl Sandburg. For example, notice how the speaker in “Chicago” uses a range of words such as “wicked,” “crooked,” and “brutal,” to describe what others say about Chicago. Then the speaker goes on to describe the city in a positive way with words such as “proud” and “laughing.” The speaker in “Grass” uses shocking statements such as “Pile the bodies high” and “Shovel them under” to express the horrors of war.

Write a paragraph about each poem examining each speaker’s word choice and attitude. Use evidence from the poems to draw conclusions about the poet’s purpose and how he wants readers to feel about the subject of each poem.